Introduction

"How did you all get here?"

The fourth test was held in an open area, where Zhao Wuji had dragged over a chair and was dozing.

There were four rounds of tests, with four teachers each handling one. Only Flender had given himself a nice, comfortable vacation.

"Flender set the rule that anyone above Level 25 could come straight here for your test. But what about Soul Elders?" Li Yusong asked.

"Soul Elders?" Zhao Wuji perked up and got out of his chair.

"Which one of them? Huh, why are there two more?"

Not far away, Oscar had also been roped into helping out. Dai Mubai, who had originally been responsible for guiding the applicants and overseeing the fourth test, needed to stay at the second test, so he had recruited Oscar—who had just bought some grilled sausages—to be their guide.

Oscar led Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing along with a swagger. When he spotted Jiang Jiu and Xiao Wu, he straightened his back even more. He naturally ignored Tang San.

"Are there really this many Little Monsters this year?" Lu Qibin, who had been in charge of testing Soul Power, had never expected things to turn out this way.

He had tested Soul Power for years. Dai Mubai, who had been Level 25 when he applied, had been one of a kind. Yet now there were five of them. He couldn't help being astonished.

"Are all of you above Level 25?" Zhao Wuji asked bluntly.

"I'm Level 26," Ning Rongrong answered without hesitation.

"I'm Level 27," Zhu Zhuqing replied.

Zhao Wuji rubbed his chin. "Soul Elders naturally don't need to take the test. I'll test the rest of you."

"Surely all three of these little ones aren't Soul Elders, too?"

"You're going to test them? You're built like a bull. I asked Mu Bai to help me run the class, so I'll just take his place and conduct the test." Lu Qibin frowned and spoke up.

"Old Lu, that's not fair. I'm just harder to beat up."

"My Star Luo Chess would be more convenient."

"I'm a defensive-type Soul Master, too." Zhao Wuji wasn't entirely making that up.

"Enough. I'm the vice dean! Besides, don't I need to show them how powerful Shrek Academy is?" He winked at Lu Qibin.

Lu Qibin treated the first half of Zhao Wuji's words like hot air, but the second half, about showing off their strength, did make sense.

Having a Soul Saint take the field would also give that little Soul Elder more confidence in Shrek Academy. Flender, that stingy fellow, had done a terrible job of making the academy look good.

When Lu Qibin said nothing more, Zhao Wuji turned to the others.

"You have the time it takes an incense stick to burn to prepare. My test is simple: hold out against me for that long and you pass. I'll warn you now, it won't be easy, so you'd better work together."

"Can I take part? I want to fight alongside Xiao Jiu." Xiao Wu raised her hand.

"So you're the Soul Elder? Of course you can!" Zhao Wuji tried to put on a kind expression, but the rolls of flesh on his face had other ideas, leaving him looking rather strange.

A twelve-year-old at Level 30-plus was a priceless treasure for Shrek Academy.

Zhao Wuji lit an incense stick, then began chatting with Li Yusong and Lu Qibin.

They talked a big game about how tough the test would be, but all three teachers knew these youngsters were as good as guaranteed admission.

At twelve years old and above Level 25, even if your Martial Soul was Blue Silver Grass, they would still accept you. There was no chance of failing the test.

Zhao Wuji had set things up this way partly because he wanted to have some fun, and partly to help these Little Monsters build rapport in advance.

After fighting side by side against a powerful opponent, they would get along more easily and form friendships faster.

It was also a chance to show off the academy's strength. They needed to impress the applicants with the quality of their teachers, since the other conditions weren't much to brag about.

Meanwhile, Jiang Jiu and the others gathered together.

Oscar wished he had another pair of eyes. There were so many new junior girls that he could hardly take them all in.

They each had their own looks, figures, and temperaments.

Cool, lively, gentle, mature...

No, he had to shave his beard as soon as he got back.

But first, he could make a good impression. Oscar had an idea: he would draw everyone's attention by acting like a dependable senior and giving the girls the inside scoop on Teacher Zhao.

But while he was busy daydreaming, Jiang Jiu had already started introducing herself.

"My name is Jiang Jiu. My Martial Soul is the Soft Bone Rabbit, and I'm a Level 30 Power Attack System Battle Soul Master."

"My name is Xiao Wu. My Martial Soul is the same as Xiao Jiu's, and I'm Level 34." Xiao Wu seemed boneless as she leaned limply against Jiang Jiu.

"What?" Ning Rongrong's gentle, ladylike facade crumbled. She stared in shock.

If she had been Level 31, Ning Rongrong could have accepted it.

Her Innate Soul Power was Level 9, and she was exceptionally lazy, yet she had still reached Level 26.

If someone had Innate Soul Power Level 10 and worked hard at cultivating, becoming a Soul Elder at twelve would be reasonable.

But what on earth was Level 34?!

Even Zhu Zhuqing's usually cool expression faltered. Her eyes went wide, her icy composure shattered, and she looked almost adorably stunned.

"What's going on? What happened?" Oscar snapped out of his daze at Ning Rongrong's voice.

"Uncle, it has nothing to do with you. I was just surprised by someone else's Soul Power. By the way, why haven't you left yet?" Ning Rongrong's facade slipped a little, revealing a glimpse of her unruly nature.

"Uncle?" Oscar froze in place.

Everyone except Jiang Jiu had assumed Oscar was a member of the academy's staff. They soon turned their attention back to their little group.

Tang San began introducing himself.

"Tang San. My Martial Soul is the tool-type Blue Silver Grass, and I'm a Level 30 Control-Type Battle Soul Master."

With Xiao Wu setting the bar, Tang San's Level 30 Blue Silver Grass was strange, but it didn't earn much of a reaction from Zhu Zhuqing or Ning Rongrong.

"Your Soul Power Levels are all so high," Ning Rongrong praised them. Then she confidently announced her own Martial Soul.

If her Soul Power wasn't enough, her Martial Soul would make up for it.

"Ning Rongrong. My Martial Soul is the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda, and I'm a Level 26 support-type tool Soul Master."

Sure enough, it worked. She drew everyone's attention.

"Hmph. So what if my Soul Power's a little lower? The Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda is powerful."

"Are you from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?" Oscar had just recovered from his heartbreak when he heard this explosive news. His eyes lit up as he looked at Ning Rongrong.

She was a bona fide heiress from a powerful clan. Extra points!

But Ning Rongrong ignored him completely, as if she hadn't heard him at all.

She stuck her tongue out at Jiang Jiu and the others. "I ran away from home. My Soul Skills can boost your speed and strength. I hope we can work together and get through this challenge."